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Sunday, August 02, 2015

CHAPTER THIRTEEN….… MUSIC TO MY EARS...PURRRFECT....OR...TO ALL THE CATS I'VE LOVED BEFORE...AND STILL...

Maroochydore...Circa 1985

Judy, Daina and baby sister Kaycee...Circa 1986...cat unknown...

Me on the deck surrounding the resort pool....and Orchid Beach

Précis:

Before continuing further with my story, whenever I think about the
resort at Cape Richards, along with my wonderful memories of my halcyon days
spent on the island, I’m also angered and saddened to my core. These days the
resort at Cape Richards
on Hinchinbrook Island no longer exists.

Through bad management/ownership the resort closed down in 2010.Like an abandoned child or pet it was left,
unprotected against the elements; the forces of Nature; and, unfortunately, unprotected
from the hands of worthless human beings.The main building and cabins were helpless victims.Not only was it destroyed by Category 5 Cyclone Yasi
who’d packed no mercy, but had packed a powerful, destructive punch when she
visited north Queensland on 3rd February,2011, brain-dead, waste-of-spacevandals had also paid visits to Cape Richards
with one sole purpose in mind…to vandalise the property. Vandals
willfully wrecked everything in their path. Why anyone would take the time to
cross the sea in their fishing boats with the intention of vandalising
the property uppermost in their minds is beyond my comprehension!I hear the sharks are pretty hungry up that
way in the waters between Cardwell and Cape Richards…I
hope the vandals need a swim to cool off…..I selflessly offer to drive the boat to drop them off into the waters off from Cape Richards....

Reflecting upon those few
weeks in early 1986 leading up to the scheduled re-opening of the resort on 8th
March, I’m in awe.I don’t know how we
managed to get everything or almost everything completed before the due date…before
our first paying guests set foot on the island; but, somehow, some way, we did achieve most of what we’d set out to before the first guests arrived by seaplane and by sea brought across
from Cardwell on the “Reef Venture”.

The new jetty was
completed and standing in fine form. The expansive deck surrounding the pool
with the sturdy wooden tables securely set into the timber decking were waiting
to be sat at with a tropical cocktail in hand!

We even managed to fit
in Bronnie’s 21st birthday party which fell a week or so before
opening day.The party was also held
before the deck was completed.It’s a
wonder we didn’t lose a couple of staff members through the unfinished decking…perhaps
we did, and didn’t notice!Our celebrations
went long into the night - anything could’ve happened!

The “Brothers in Arms”
world tour by Dire Straits was in progress at the time and the band was due to
perform at the Townsville Showgrounds on 2nd April.I knew Bronwyn was a huge fan, so I organised
two tickets for her; it would be her first ever live concert; and I knew she'd want someone to accompany her. Being on the island was her first time away from home. In lots of ways she was still a shy lass. It was up to her who she'd choose from her workmates to join her at the concert.She'd enjoy the concert far better with a mate by her side to enjoy it with her.

Bronnie was over the moon when she received the
tickets. They were only a part of a number of special gifts she received.The best gift of all, I think, was her party.It was surprise. She didn’t have a clue what
was in store for her on her birthday.

Everyone got on board with me and we kept it secret from her.Mean me even got everyone to pretend they’d
forgotten it was her birthday.She came
down for breakfast the morning of her big day, and we all just greeted her as
usual…no fuss, no bother was made. We hardly interrupted the conversations we were having when she arrived at the table...purposely we made little notice of her appearance.

As
breakfast progressed we could see her face grow longer and longer!Finally, I gave a hidden signal and we burst
into laughter and song…singing her “Happy Birthday”!

Bronnie then felt like killing us all!!There was no pleasing the girl!!

She was still unaware a surprise party was ready and waiting to burst forth from the wings!.

During breakfast I apologised to her
saying with everything that was going on trying to get the resort ready for
opening, I’d not had time to organise a gift for her. Things were so hectic etc., etc. She took it in her stead…or, at least,
pretended to do so.She was very
gracious about my lack of caring skills.

When Bronnie appeared
back down at the restaurant area at the end of the day, after she’d showered
and had changed her clothing in readiness for a pre-dinner drink or two (casual clothing...it was the midst of summer and we were on a tropical island - "casual" was the name and dress of the day)…the “same old-same old” routine as the day before and
the day before that etc., she got the shock of her life!Her eyes grew wider and wider. It matched the smile that spread across her face. She couldn’t believe the number of gifts
given to her…her favourite gift…the Dire Straits tickets.

She still at that stage of the proceedings had no idea a party was in store. When she finally woke up to what was going on, she had the time of her life...a night and celebration to remember.

My late brother Graham’s 44th birthday
fell on 28th February.Again,
I swore the rest of the crew to secrecy at the promised risk of walking the
plank if they divulged to him what I had planned.Graham hated being made a fuss of, and more
particularly amongst people he’d only met. Parties weren’t his “scene”; and more
importantly, definitely not surprise parties!I
doubt he’d ever had a surprise party until 28th February, 1986!

Full of bravado seeing I’d pulled off Bronwyn’s surprise
party with aplomb and much underhanded sneakiness,I decided to try my proficient skills at
subterfuge once more.The whole day went
by without anyone recognizing it was Graham’s birthday, other than me.And with the status quo being what it was, he was content.

Surreptitiously, a couple of days before Graham’s
birthday I made a huge, well-laced-with-rum boiled fruit cake. I hid it away in
the restaurant kitchen’s pantry, out of sight of prying eyes, and away from nasal
sensitivity.

When doing a liquor order, I’d ordered in an extra
1125ml bottle of Bundaberg Rum. Graham enjoyed having a rum or two (never with
cola), particularly in winter; and always Bundaberg Rum.What true Queenslander doesn’t?At times he enjoyed a rum chaser to accompany
a cold beer.

Along with the fruit cake,
the surprise party and special party fare, the bottle of rum was also my
birthday gift to Graham.

And what a party it was!Graham had no escape.However, as it turned out, after the first 30 minutes, give or take, he
lost the desire to do so.

I couldn’t
believe my eyes when I saw my brother kicking up his heels and doing his rendition of the Can Can with
Bronwyn.I will never forget that
sight.It was my turn to be surprised;
I’d never seen my brother act with such joyous abandon ever before that very
special moment.Everyone had so much fun
that evening, my late brother Graham included – he most of all.

Graham idolized Bronnie, and vice versa.He treated her like a daughter, and he was
very protective of her. She was only a couple of years older than Natalie, his
own daughter.A few months later Natalie
came to work for me at the resort, too.

Sadly Graham
and Bronwyn have passed away - Graham at 56 years of age; and Bronwyn, three
years ago at the age of 47….far too young, the both of them.Bronwyn left behind a husband and three
children.

By the stage the two birthdays had come around, the
chef who had been cooking at the resort under the previous management and his
wife had returned to the fold. Steve, the chef, renewed his familiar
relationship with up the island's pots and pans; and Kim, his wife, stepped back into
her previous role as waitress. Penny, who’d also worked as a waitress before
Randall’s and my arrival, along with her boyfriend, Bruce returned to their
previous posts. Bruce was the resort’s barman.

Penny was later christened “Touché Turtle” by a staff member; and Bruce “Dum Dum” (named after
the Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters). Penny was about two feet tall (an
exaggeration, of course…put it down to poetic license) and had a certain air
about her that put her co-workers off, including me.Bruce followed her around like a lap dog,
hence his renaming…more about that later.

As well as overseeing and assisting on the
maintenance side of things, Randall, because of his past experiences in
managing bars in New York and for a short time
upon his arrival back home in Australia, would also work the bar when necessary, over and above the ordering and
restocking of the bar.

Ted, my brother Graham and Burnie were the resort’s
maintenance crew.Ron and Peter had
returned to Noosa, but Dutchman, Rin, the plumber stayed on for a little while
longer.For a time he, too, was part of
the maintenance men.

And they were
joined by Maurice. It’s difficult to put a name on what Maurice did…”Havoc”
perhaps would’ve been a fitting title…more about that later, too!

“Old” Graham (the second “Graham” on the island) who
had also been part of the team who had worked for the previous management
returned to his role as breakfast cook. He worked split shifts; mornings and
evenings; having a break each day from around 10.30 am until 3.30 pm.“Old” Graham, as he was affectionately
called, prepared the desserts and acted as chief kitchen-hand/dishwasher, as well.

Daina, the 17 year old daughter of “Slip” and Judy,
both of whom I mentioned in Chapter 10 of this saga, joined the island
workforce, working alongside Bronnie in keeping the cabins spick and span. They both attended to the laundry work, too.

It was Daina’s first job out of school.She’d spent a year as an exchange student in Japan. She also celebrated a
birthday on the island…her 18th.I threw a Toga Party for her. It was a fun night. Daina is now store manager of K-Mart in
Innisfail a town in North Queensland; north of Hinchinbrook…south of Cairns. She's married with two teenage daughters. Daina and I are still friends to this day;
and similar applies to some others who worked with me at the resort back then.

One morning while everyone was going about their
duties the phone in my office rang (it was the only phone on the island; and, of course, in 1986 there were no mobile/cell phones).

The phone ringing
wasn’t an unusual event, but the message I received down the line from the other end
was.

A stranger told me Randall and I
had won a car.Actually, that we’d won
the right to choose one from a choice of three! The choice was between a Nissan
Patrol, a Mazda 323, and one other, the make and model of which now has escaped
my memory. Being the disbelieving person that I am, I let known my disbelief to the audacious stranger calling me.I was given a telephone number and asked to
ring the number back; I did so.

My phone call was answered by someone from the
Endeavour Foundation’s Nambour office.

The Endeavour Foundation is an independent not-for-profit
organisation that supports people with a disability from more than 230
locations in Queensland, New
South Wales, Victoria
and South Australia.The Foundation was founded in 1951 by a group
of parents who joined together to provide an education for their children with
a disability.

We had, in fact, won a car!

Having become competent in the art of concealment, I decided to have a bit
of fun.

For the rest of the morning, exhibiting an admirable amount of self-control
worthy of a gold medal, I kept the news to myself.As was our habit to do, the staff, Randall
and I gathered together for lunch...around the same long table we sat at for breakfast and dinner... at the appointed
time.

Waiting for the right moment, I
nonchalantly broke my surprising news…just as Randall was about to insert a food-laden fork
into his mouth! My timing was perfect...I couldn't have done better if I'd rehearsed it!

Ahhh….I will never forget that moment!The expression on his face was priceless – and memorable!

At first, the others around the table stared
at me in disbelief, but they quickly realised from the look I gave them in
return I was telling the truth.

In stunned silence, scoffing at me between his silences, Randall still believed I was playing a joke on him.

I escorted him into the office, placed
the phone receiver in his hand and I dialed the number for him. He finally believed me!

Early in December, 1985, while shopping at Maroochydore'smain shopping
centre, Randall bought a ticket in the Endeavour Foundation’s then current Art Union,
which offered the choice of three vehicles as its first prize.

Maroochydore is a Sunshine Coast
beach area.We were still living at Sunshine Beach,
preparing ourselves for our relocation to Hinchinbrook Island.

Before leaving Sunshine Beach
we’d sold our second car, the MG-Magnette, knowing we’d not need two cars when
living on an island.And now, we’d won a
brand, spanking new car for the price of one ticket – a couple of dollars…or
rather, Randall had won a car, if one needs to be pedantic.

For the moment – a breathing moment or more, the decision of what to do
about the car was placed in the “too hard basket”.

In the meantime, all our energy and brain
power had to be wholly committed to the work that needed doing before the
re-opening date of the resort.The car
was safe. No time limit had been put upon us to make a decision about the
vehicle, but time was on the move. It wasn’t going to stop for us, or anyone
else, even if we’d been fortunate enough to win the lottery.

The 8th of March was rapidly marching towards us.Tick-tock…tick-tock….

33 comments:

As I read along in this chapter I was thinking you must have a tremendous memory, I have always thought I had a good one but now I am beginning to wonder. Everyone should have at least one surprise birthday party and so lucky you have the memories of these two to share. But which car did you choose, amazing to have won it.

Hi EC...Bronnie looked towards Graham as a father figure, I guess. Her being away from her family...a loving family...for the first time gave her some form of parental-style comfort and security, I guess. They got on well.

My brother was a fairly complex person...and he was pretty particular about who he liked and disliked. He was a straight-shooter...a very "black and white" person.

G'Day River...I didn't spend many years on the island as you will discover as my story continues...but the time I spent there was very special...and to have witnessed through the years since my time there what occurred to the resort...the destruction at the hands of humans and nature...it is heartbreaking.

I love the photo of Splendid Isolation. And I feel for your pain in seeing the resort damaged by idiots. It is really sad when somewhere special gets spoiled. You are at least keeping the memories alive with your posts.

G'day Jenny...yes...the resort as it was during the wonderful time I was lucky enough to have lived there and had the right to take care of it will always be as it was then...as long as I'm alive to write about it. :)

Yes, Yorky...I've seen that site and the video...it broke my heart when I saw it...I cried...I'm not too proud to admit that I cried.

One of my chefs from the resort...we're still good mates...also visited the island early last year or in late 2013...the destroyed resort...he couldn't believe what he saw. He, too, was very upset and disturbed by what he saw before him.

A friend of his, together with a few other fellows were considering purchasing the resort (remains thereof) to rebuild...but after further close inspections etc., they made the decision not to go forward with the purchase...it would've cost far too much. The last we heard was that a Chinese mob were showing interest, but I've heard no further. I must ask David again...but he visited me just prior to Christmas 2014..to take me to lunch, and he'd heard nothing further at that time. David and his wife live in Townsville, approx 170ks south of the island.

The development....Port Hinchinbrook...is/was on the mainland, south of Cardwell. The developer, the late Keith Williams fought hard with the conservationists back in the 1990s to get the project off the ground. In previous posts I've written about him...and about Margaret Thorsborne. I met Margaret shortly after I moved to the island. She and her late husband came over to meet me and to learn what my ideas and intentions were re the island/resort. It was and still is very dear to her heart. Margaret is now in her 90s...she's a real little powerhouse...and a lovely woman. We met up again a few other times throughout the years. I've written about her previously, too. As I have done Keith Williams...he used to stay at a motel I was involved in at the time he was trying to get the construction of Port Hinchinbrook underway. He was a strong character...quite an impressive man...and I got on well with him, too. Margaret was his nemesis. They were around the same age; and secretly, they admired each other...each other's spirit and determination.

Keith Williams' son was in charge of the resort when it went under.

I didn't intend this response of mine to be so lengthy...but, strange as it may seem...this is the short version! :)

Hahahahaha! At that stage I only had one cat, Mr. Ad-Man and that was my dearly beloved Ruska; but as I write this response to your indignant response...I have two cats trying to take over not only me, but my keyboard, as well!

I do so wish that I had your memory Lee. I know of the Island and resort from my time in New Zealand but I'm darned if I can recall exactly how or why I know and who told me. I have a feeling that friends may have stayed there. I shall have to do some asking around. Anyway it's good to read a bit of its more intimate history even if its end is such a sad one.

Hey there, Graham. I made quite a few Kiwi friends during my time managing the island and being its sales and marketing manager as well. I always linked up with the New Zealanders when we attended the same trade shows/seminars etc. And I spent a week in Christchurch in late 1986 attending the TANZ Convention. The New Zealanders were always a fun mob to hang about with...they loved to party! lol A guy called Jerry/Gerry who flew a seaplane and other light aircraft out of Queenstown down to Invercargill and all places in between (a tourism operation) became a good mate. He and his wife along with one of their neighbours paid a visit to the island in November 1986 - they stayed for a week. Good people they were.

The a couple of the local police/CIB in Christchurch did me a favour and handed out all my promotional brochures because I'd run out of time to do so and had to return to the island...too partying! They kept in touch a couple of times after I'd return to Aus. lol

Thanks for coming by...sorry I've only just now discovered your comment! :)